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ABC's Charles Gibson, NBC's Brian Williams (above) and CBS' Katie Couric, the top three news anchors of US network television, have already cut deals to follow Mr Obama's footsteps next week in Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain. -- PHOTO: AP
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NEW YORK - MR BARACK Obama's first tour of Europe and the Middle East as Democratic presidential candidate will be followed in detail by US television's top news anchors and printed media star reporters, media reports said on Thursday.
The first black White House contender's trip has generated such a media frenzy that his Republican rival John McCain has branded it a 'political stunt' and an overseas campaign rally with little in the way of fact-finding objectives.
News organisations are practically tripping over each other to get coverage deals for the trip with the Obama campaign.
ABC's Charles Gibson, NBC's Brian Williams and CBS' Katie Couric, the top three news anchors of US network television, have already cut deals to follow Mr Obama's footsteps next week in Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain.
'Our plan right now is for Charlie to conduct an interview with senator Obama at some point during the trip, but we are working out the details,' said ABC spokesman Natalie Raabe.
In all, some 200 journalists are vying for 40 accredited spots to accompany the 46-year-old candidate on his foreign trip, according to The Washington Post.
Besides his tour of Europe and the Middle East next week, Mr Obama may also fit in surprise visits to Iraq and Afghanistan, although nothing official has been announced for security reasons.
The attention to the trip has some Republicans complaining it puts Mr McCain at a disadvantage in getting his message across.
Republican representative Eric Cantor, a high-profile McCain backer, said Mr Obama's tour has turned into a huge media event.
'The question really needs to be posed - is this type of coverage fair? This is nothing but a political stunt,' he said.
CBS official Paul Friedman told The New York Times the media frenzy over Mr Obama's trip was justified because it was the Illinois Senator's first trip abroad.
ABC's Natalie Raab said: 'I think we are covering both candidates aggressively and fairly.'
Media watchdog Tindall Report said ABC, CBS and NBC - with a combined audience of 20 million - gave Mr Obama 114 minutes of television time since June, compared to 48 minutes for Mr McCain. -- AFP
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